I. sham 1 /ʃæm/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: Perhaps from sham 'shame' (13-17 centuries) , from shame ]
1 . [singular] someone or something that is not what they are claimed to be – used to show disapproval:
The elections were a complete sham.
2 . [uncountable] literary when someone tries to make something or someone seem better than they really are:
It all turned out to be sham and hypocrisy.
3 . [countable] a cover for a ↑ pillow , especially one used for decoration
II. sham 2 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
made to appear real in order to deceive people SYN false :
a sham marriage
III. sham 3 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle shammed , present participle shamming ) [intransitive and transitive] especially British English old-fashioned
to pretend to be upset, ill etc to gain sympathy or an advantage SYN feign :
She’s not ill, she’s only shamming.